Earthquake Country Alliance

Episode 7: Lessons learned about business losses and economic recovery – The Northridge Earthquake as a catalyst for research and application
2024-11-13 12:00 - 13:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Online (Zoom)
Episode 7 of the Northridge 30th Anniversary Webinar Series:
The Northridge Earthquake – 30 Years Later – A Catalyst for Engineering Resilient Communities

Series Partners:

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Resilience Division
ASCE Los Angeles Section
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Southern California Chapter
Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEOASC)
Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA), led by the Statewide California Earthquake Center

Episode 7 Overview:
Social science research on businesses affected by the Northridge earthquake was ground-breaking for understanding business interruption and losses, with an emphasis on how factors such as business characteristics and building and infrastructure performance affect outcomes for firms and organizations. In addition to providing an understanding of how businesses fare in the aftermath of disasters, organizational-level findings provided data inputs for the development of regional economic impact modeling. This webinar will provide an overview of the methods and findings from Northridge earthquake research and how studies of subsequent earthquakes, for example the 2014 S. Napa and the 2023 Kahramanmaras earthquakes, were influenced by but also expanded on the approach. The catalyst of the Northridge study is also evident in the framing of economic analyses for the HayWired earthquake scenario, including aspects of business characteristics, damage patterns, and macroeconomic impacts.
Episode 7 Presenters:
Dr. Kathleen Tierney, professor emerita in the Department of Sociology and research professor in the Institute of Behavioral Science at the University of Colorado Boulder
From 2003 to 2017, Kathleen was director of the university’s Natural Hazards Center. Prior to her move to Colorado, she was a professor in the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice and director of the Disaster Research Center at the University of Delaware. She has also held academic and research positions at the University of California Los Angeles, the University of Southern California, and the University of California Irvine.
Kathleen’s research interests include disaster and climate change vulnerability, resilience conceptualization and measurement, and the political economy of hazards and disasters. She has published widely in journals in the fields of sociology, environmental studies, and disaster risk reduction and emergency management. She was lead author of Facing the Unexpected: Disaster Preparedness and Response in the United States (Joseph Henry Press 2001), co-editor of Emergency Management: Principles and Practice for Local Governments (ICMA Press, 2007), and author of The Social Roots of Risk (Stanford University Press 2014) and Disasters: A Sociological Approach (Polity Press, 2019), the second edition of which will be published in 2025.
Kathleen has served as an EERI board member and has received EERI’s distinguished lecturer and honorary member awards. Her other awards include the Fred Buttel award for distinguished contributions to the field of environmental sociology and the Charles Fritz award for distinguished contributions to the study of hazards and disasters.
Dr. Cynthia Kroll, regional economist
Dr. Cynthia Kroll is a regional economist who was Co-Chair of the EERI Learning from Earthquakes Business Resilience Working Group from 2019 through 2023. She consults locally and globally on regional economic, environmental, real estate and resilience topics. As Chief Economist for the Association of Bay Area Government and the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, from which she retired in 2019, she updated and expanded the economic forecast for the region and led efforts to assess how a major earthquake in the East Bay would affect the Bay Area and California economies. She led staff research at UC Berkeley’s Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics for almost three decades, and previously held positions at the State of California and at SRI International. Dr. Kroll’s work on earthquake impacts began with a National Science Foundation technology assessment of earthquake prediction tools while at SRI, and continued with a study of the impacts of the Loma Prieta earthquake on businesses while at UC, as well as more recent work on business resilience related to earthquakes in Napa, California, Cushing, Oklahoma, Alaska, and Turkiye. Dr. Kroll received a bachelor’s in social sciences and art, and master’s and PhD degrees in City and Regional Planning from UC Berkeley.
Episode 7 Moderator:
Dr. Anne Wein, USGS Moffett Field

WEBINAR RECORDING & PRESENTATION SLIDES
Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)View Recording on Youtube

ALL EPISODES:

Episode 1: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake – Science and Engineering Aspects (Feb. 14)
Episode 2: Insurance Issues and Impacts Following the Northridge Earthquake (April 23)
Episode 3: 30 Years of Progress in Quantification of Seismic Hazards (June 12)
Episode 4: An Unexpected Milestone in Real-Time Loss Estimation (July 24)
Episode 5: Legacies of the Northridge Earthquake in Disaster Recovery Planning & Policy (Aug. 28)
Episode 6: The Northridge Earthquake: the Catalyst for Resilience of Healthcare in California (Oct. 30)
Episode 7: Lessons learned about business losses and economic recovery – The Northridge Earthquake as a catalyst for research and application (Nov. 13)
Episode 8: Rethinking Communication about Seismic Risk – Linking Knowledge to Action in Innovative Ways Since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (Dec. 18)

More episodes planned monthly through January 2025.

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

Venice Community Quake Heroes Expo
2024-11-16 12:00 - 15:00
This special FREE event for residents of Venice and surrounding areas will be held at the Oakwood Recreation Center to raise awareness of what can happen during earthquakes and how we can all improve safety and resilience. The event is hosted by City of Los Angeles Councilwoman Traci Park, with support from the Venice Community Resiliency Committee, the Statewide California Earthquake Center, RomaScope, Earthquake Country Alliance, and many others.

The event will showcase Quake Heroes, a new motivational documentary that blends Hollywood storytelling with real-life heroism from the January 1994 Northridge earthquake. The film was created by SCEC with support from FEMA and many sponsors to inspire individual and community resilience.
What’s included?

Quake Heroes documentary special screening(12:15–1:30 p.m.)
Comments from officials and special guests
Information and resources for each of theSeven Steps to Earthquake Safety
Exhibits about the Northridge earthquake and earthquake science

Expo Location:
Oakwood Recreation Center
767 California Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90291

Expo Schedule:

12:00pm – 12:15pm
Event Begins, find a seat!

12:15pm – 12:30pm
Comments from Officials and Special Guests

12:30pm – 1:30pm
Screening of Quake Heroes film

1:00pm – 3:00pm
Seven Steps Information and Safety Fair

Request Free Tickets(Capacity is limited)

Quake Heroes Trailer (Long)
from
RomaScope Inc
on
Vimeo
.

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

If you are interested in hosting a Quake Heroes Expo for your organization or community, visit QuakeHeroes.org.

QUESTIONS:
info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA Statewide Fall 2024 Online Workshop
2024-12-04 10:00 - 12:00
Click here to view workshop recording and other materials.

This workshop shared how you can receive free materials and trainings, plus highlights of 2024 and plans for 2025, including ideas for #TsunamiPrep Week!

AGENDA
ECA 2024 Overview – brief overview of what we’ve accomplished this year (Mark Benthien, Statewide California Earthquake Center / ECA Executive Director)
Opportunities for free materials, trainings, and retrofit funding (quick overviews of programs and resources for improving earthquake safety):

ECA 2024 “Secure Your Space” $500 Mini Awards (Vanessa Nava, SCEC/ECA)
“Secure Your Space” Training – Dec 12 (Glen Granholm, Earthquake Consulting)
Share the Gift of Safety – great discounts! (Mark Benthien, SCEC/ECA)
Free multi-language ECA printed materials (Mark Benthien, SCEC/ECA)
Resilient Workplace Webinars – Dec 11, 12, and 17 (Ines Pearce, DRB Toolkit Workgroup)
Earthquake Soft Story and Earthquake Brace+Bolt retrofit programs (Janiele Maffei, CEA)

2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami 20th Anniversary: Lessons learned and implications for California (Laura Kong, Director, International Tsunami Information Centre)
2025 California Tsunami Preparedness Week: Why and How all Californians can participate! (Yvette LaDuke, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, and Mark Benthien, SCEC/ECA)
Northridge30: Webinar Series and Quake Heroes Expos, including opportunities for Expos in vulnerable communities in 2025 (Mark Benthien, SCEC/ECA)

WORKSHOP RECORDING, PRESENTATION SLIDES, SURVEY, etc.
Workshop Video Recording (Youtube; also view below)
Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete after viewing the workshop (live or recorded)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

Learn How to Secure Your Space
2024-12-12 13:00 - 15:00
Click here to view workshop recording and other materials.

This online training workshop provided basic understanding and skills for how to reduce damage or injuries by properly securing your space (at home or work), and to help neighbors, friends, and family secure their space too.

PRESENTERS

Glen Granholm (Vice President, Earthquake Consulting)

Trevyn Reese, (Vice President, Ready America)

MODERATOR
Mark Benthien, Executive Director, Earthquake Country Alliance
(and Director for Public Education and Preparedness, Statewide California Earthquake Center)

WORKSHOP RECORDING & PRESENTATION SLIDES
Webinar Video Recording (Youtube; also view below)
Webinar Slides (PDF; content shared live by panelists is not included)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

Episode 8: Rethinking Communication about Seismic Risk – Linking Knowledge to Action in Innovative Ways Since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake
2024-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 | Online (Zoom)
Episode 8 of the Northridge 30th Anniversary Webinar Series:
The Northridge Earthquake – 30 Years Later – A Catalyst for Engineering Resilient Communities

Series Partners:

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Infrastructure Resilience Division
ASCE Los Angeles Section
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI) Southern California Chapter
Structural Engineers Association of Southern California (SEOASC)
Earthquake Country Alliance (ECA), led by the Statewide California Earthquake Center

Episode 8 Overview:
Risk is an abstract concept that, for most people, “happens to others.” Engaging residents of risk-prone areas in active measures to reduce risk is a continual process of collective learning that increases sporadically after an actual event only to decrease in entropy as the event fades in memory. Observed over decades, this pattern persists even as more funds are invested in risk reduction measures and scientists warn about increasing threat. This webinar will offer a look at how visual technologies have changed over the past thirty years since the Northridge Earthquake, making recognition of risk easier, faster, simpler. It will also discuss the design process of generating empathy in a community through music to build the shared social connections essential for collective action under threat. Both approaches offer new promise for creating vital, informed, active communities that are more resilient to seismic risk.

Episode 8 Moderator:
Louise K. Comfort, Visiting Researcher, University of California, Berkeley & Professor Emerita, Graduate School of Public & International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh
Prof. Comfort is Professor Emerita and former Director, Center for Disaster Management, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, University of Pittsburgh. She is currently a Visiting Researcher, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and received the 2020 Fred Riggs Award for Lifetime Achievement, Section on International Comparative Administration, American Society for Public Administration. Her recent books include The Dynamics of Risk: Changing Technologies and Collective Action in Seismic Events, Princeton University Press, 2019; Global Risk Management:The Role of Collective Cognition in Response to COVID-19, Routledge, 2022, co-edited with Mary Lee Rhodes; and Hazardous Seas: A Sociotechnical Framework for Early Tsunami Detection and Warning, Island Press, 2023, co-edited with H.P. Rahayu. She studies the dynamics of decision making in response to urgent events: earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, wildfire, and COVID-19.

Episode 8 Presenters:
Ronald T. Eguchi, President and CEO, ImageCat, Inc.
Mr. Eguchi is CEO and Co-Founder of ImageCat, Inc., a risk management company specializing in the development and use of advanced technologies for risk assessment and reduction. He currently serves or has served on several Editorial Boards including the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute’s Journal SPECTRA. In 2006, he accepted an ATC Award of Excellence on behalf of the ATC-61 project team for work on An Independent Study to Assess Future Savings from Mitigation Activities that showed that a dollar spent on hazard mitigation saves the nation about $4 in future benefits. He was recognized by EERI as the 2008 Distinguished Lecturer where he discussed the topic of “Earthquakes, Hurricanes, and other Disasters: A View from Space.” In 2023, he was appointed to the California Governor’s Advisory Board on Wildfire Technology Research & Development, and in 2024, he was appointed as the Founding Chair of the National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) Lifeline Advisory Panel. He has authored over 300 publications, many of them dealing with the seismic risk of utility lifeline systems and the use of remote sensing technologies for disaster response.
Lucy Jones, Founder and Director, Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society
Dr. Jones is the founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, with a mission to foster the understanding and application of scientific information in the creation of more resilient communities. She is the author of the book, The Big Ones (Doubleday, April 2018) and is also a Research Associate at the Seismological Laboratory of Caltech, a post she has held since 1984. Working with both the public and private sectors, Dr. Jones seeks to increase communities’ ability to adapt and be resilient to the dynamic changes of the world around them. The aim is to understand and communicate where the greatest vulnerabilities lie and what actions can be taken to reduce the risk that are the most cost-effective. With a Bachelor of Arts in Chinese Language and Literature from Brown University and a Ph.D. in Geophysics from MIT, Dr. Jones has been active in earthquake research for decades, furthering earthquake risk reduction through seismological research and integrated disaster scenarios.

WEBINAR RECORDING & PRESENTATION SLIDES
Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)View Recording on Youtube

ALL EPISODES:

Episode 1: The 1994 Northridge Earthquake – Science and Engineering Aspects (Feb. 14)
Episode 2: Insurance Issues and Impacts Following the Northridge Earthquake (April 23)
Episode 3: 30 Years of Progress in Quantification of Seismic Hazards (June 12)
Episode 4: An Unexpected Milestone in Real-Time Loss Estimation (July 24)
Episode 5: Legacies of the Northridge Earthquake in Disaster Recovery Planning & Policy (Aug. 28)
Episode 6: The Northridge Earthquake: the Catalyst for Resilience of Healthcare in California (Oct. 30)
Episode 7: Lessons learned about business losses and economic recovery – The Northridge Earthquake as a catalyst for research and application (Nov. 13)
Episode 8: Rethinking Communication about Seismic Risk – Linking Knowledge to Action in Innovative Ways Since the 1994 Northridge Earthquake (Dec. 18)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA SoCal Winter 2025 In-Person Workshop
2025-02-20 09:00 - 12:30
Click here to view workshop slides..

This in-person workshop included presentations on tsunami hazards and preparedness activities, helpful earthquake information tools, and how we all can encourage collaborative science, engineering, and preparedness policy. Presenters included experts from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, City of Newport Beach, Caltech, UC Irvine, and Earthquake Country Alliance/SCEC. The meeting also included time for networking and participants to share about their activities.

Location: Marina Park Community Center | 1600 W. Balboa Blvd., Newport Beach, CA 92663

AGENDA

Margaret Vinci and Alan Hanson (ECA SoCal Chairs)
Welcome and introductions– ECA SoCal Coordinating Committee Chairs

ECA Bay Area Winter 2025 Online Workshop
2025-03-05 10:00 - 12:00 | Online (Zoom)
Click here to view workshop presentation slides and other materials.

This workshop explored earthquake and tsunami hazards, including insights from the December 5 Cape Mendocino earthquake and tsunami warning and how communities responded. The workshop also included information about recent Bay Area earthquakes, Marin County’s earthquake and tsunami hazards and ECA’s 2025 activities and ways to get involved in advancing earthquake and tsunami preparedness.
REGISTER TO PARTICIPATE (ZOOM)
There is no cost to attend.

AGENDA

Dena Gunning (Central County Fire Department), Jeff Airth (SFO Emergency Management), and Ray Bonilla (Elevance Health and City of Hayward)
Welcome and Introductions – ECA Bay Area Coordinating Committee Chairs

Todd Becker (Seismic Hazards Branch, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services) and Jay Patton (Seismic Hazards Program, Tsunami Unit, California Geological Survey)

Overview of Tsunami Hazards, including a review of the December 5, 2024 Cape Mendocino Earthquake and Tsunami Warning

Dr. Curtis Baden (Research Geophysicist, United States Geological Survey)
Quake Break – Recent Bay Area Earthquakes

Steven Torrence (Director of Emergency Management, Office of Emergency Management, Marin County Fire Department)
Marin County Earthquake and Tsunami Hazards, including response to the December 5 Tsunami Warning

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)
ECA 2025 Activities & Opportunities

Announcements by Participants

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES, SURVEY, etc.
Workshop Video Recording (Youtube; also view below)
Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete if you attended, if you registered but could not then attend, or if you watched the video of the workshop)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

City of Murrieta Quake Heroes Film+Expo
2025-03-15 09:00 - 13:00
This special FREE event will to raise awareness of what can happen during earthquakes and how we can all improve safety and resilience. The event is hosted by the Murrieta Public Library, with support from the Statewide California Earthquake Center, Earthquake Country Alliance, and many others.

The event will showcase Quake Heroes, a new motivational documentary that blends Hollywood storytelling with real-life heroism from the January 1994 Northridge earthquake. The film was created by SCEC with support from FEMA and many sponsors to inspire individual and community resilience.
What’s included?

Welcome from officials and special guests
Quake Heroes documentary special screening(9:15–10:30 a.m.)
Information and resources for each of theSeven Steps to Earthquake Safety (10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.)
Exhibits about the Northridge earthquake and earthquake science
Ready America Big Shaker mobile earthquake simulator

Expo Location:
Murrieta Public Library
8 Town Square, Murrieta, CA 92562

Expo Schedule:

9:00am – 9:15am
Event Opens, find a seat!

9:15am – 9:30am
Comments from Officials and Special Guests

9:30am – 10:30am
Screening of Quake Heroes film

10:30am – 1:00pm
Seven Steps Information and Safety Fair

Request Free Tickets(Capacity is limited)

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety Host Organizations for this Expo:

Step 1, Secure Your Space: Ready America (bringing their Big Shaker Simulator too!)

Step 2, Plan to Be Safe:City of Murrieta Fire Department & Murrieta CERT

Step 3, Organize Disaster Supplies: Simpler Life

Step 4, Minimize Financial Hardship: Earthquake Country Alliance

Step 5, Drop, Cover, and Hold On: SCEC / Earthquake Country Alliance

Step 6, Improve Safety: City of Murrieta Police Department

Step 7, Reconnect and Restore:County of Riverside Emergency Management Department

Quake Heroes Trailer (Long)
from
RomaScope Inc
on
Vimeo
.

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

If you are interested in hosting a Quake Heroes Expo for your organization or community, visit QuakeHeroes.org.

QUESTIONS:
info@earthquakecountry.org

Tsunamis Mean Business: Is Your Organization Ready?
2025-03-24 14:00 - 15:00 | Online (Zoom)
Click here to view workshop recording and presentation slides.

This year’s California Tsunami Preparedness webinar focused on how tsunamis can impact businesses and other organizations, including disruptions faced by your customers, suppliers, and staff. The webinar provided an overview of California tsunami hazards, warnings, and ways to get prepared. ECA is pleased to co-host the webinar with the Business & Industry Council on Emergency Planning and Preparedness (BICEPP).

AGENDA

Todd Becker (Tsunami Planning Coordinator, Seismic Hazards Branch, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services)
Overview of Tsunami Hazards and Warnings

Anne Wein (Operations Research Analyst, United States Geological Survey)
Economic Impacts of the SAFRR Tsunami Scenario in California

Chris Wright (President, Business & Industry Council on Emergency Planning and Preparedness – BICEPP)
Guidance and Considerations for Business Tsunami Planning

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)
TsunamiZone.org: Resources and Suggestions for How to Improve Tsunami Preparedness

Final Discussion

WEBINAR PRESENTATION SLIDES, SURVEY, etc.
Webinar Video Recording (Youtube; also view below)
Webinar Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete if you attended, or if you registered but could not then attend)

(Click “CC” to see captions, once the video starts playing)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA SoCal Spring 2025 Workshop
2025-05-22 09:00 - 12:30
Click here to view workshop slides

This in-person workshop was held at the LA Regional Food Bank (City of Industry) and included presentations about the April 14 Julian, CA M5.2 earthquake and the Elsinore fault, the Food Bank, ECA Mini Awards, free materials, and more. The meeting also included time for networking and participants to share about their activities.

Location: Los Angeles Regional FoodBank Warehouse | 2300 Pellissier Pl, City of Industry, CA 90601

AGENDA

Margaret Vinci and Alan Hanson (ECA SoCal Chairs)
Welcome and introductions– ECA SoCal Coordinating Committee Chairs

ECA Bay Area Spring 2025 Workshop
2025-06-04 09:00 - 12:30 | Online (Zoom)
Click here to view workshop presentation slides and other materials.

Location:
City of San Jose Emergency Operations Center
1591 Senter Rd., San José, CA 95112
Attendees of this in-person workshop learned about current research along the Hayward and Calaveras faults, recently published guidance for earthquake resilient homes and for retrofitting or repairing concrete buildings, and ECA 2025 activities (including information about the Mini Awards program). See full agenda with topics and presenters below.

Schedule:
08:30am – Registration and Networking
09:00am – Workshop Begins
12:30pm – Workshop Adjourns

Presentations and Discussions:

Dena Gunning (Central County Fire Department),
Jeff Airth (SFO Emergency Management), and
Ray Bonilla (Elevance Health and City of Hayward)
Welcome and Introductions – ECA Bay Area Coordinating Committee Chairs

Jay McAmis (Deputy Director, City of San José Emergency Management)
Welcome to the City of San José Emergency Operations Center

Dr. Betsy Madden (Professor, San Jose State University)
Overview of Current Research Along the Hayward and Calaveras Faults for improving Seismic Hazard Assessments

Justin Moresco (Director of Projects, Applied Technology Council)
Recent FEMA Earthquake Publications including Guidance for Building Earthquake-Resistant Homes, and Post-Earthquake Retrofit and Repair of Concrete Buildings

NEW ADDITION TO WORKSHOP:Dr. Samantha Stanley (ShakeAlert Technical Engagement Coordinator, Berkeley Seismology Lab)
Earthquake News in the Age of AI

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)
ECA 2025 Activities & Opportunities, including highlights of recent Mini Award Projects & Updates for the 2025 Program

Earthquake Q&A: What do you need to know for your public outreach and decision making?

Announcements by Participants

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES, SURVEY, etc.

Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete if you attended, if you registered but could not then attend, or if you viewed the slides of the workshop)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA SoCal Summer 2025 Workshop
2025-08-13 09:00 - 12:30
Click here to view workshop slides

This in-person workshop at Caltech included presentations about the institution’s emergency planning, next generation seismic network concepts, new maps of earthquake shaking potential and local earthquake zones, updates about recent SoCal earthquakes, ECA activities and resources, 2025 ShakeOut planning, and more. The meeting also included time for participants to share about their activities, and was followed by a tour of the Caltech Seismological Laboratory!

Location: Caltech | 1200 E. California Blvd. | Pasadena, CA 91125

AGENDA

Margaret Vinci and Alan Hanson (ECA SoCal Chairs)

Welcome and introductions– ECA SoCal Coordinating Committee Chairs

Hampton Cantrell (Chief Caltech Campus Security and Parking Services)

Caltech Welcome and Overview of Emergency Planning

Dr. Zhongwen Zhan (Director, Caltech Seismological Laboratory)

Next-Generation Seismic Network Concept and How it Can Help with Earthquake Preparedness

Janiele Maffei (Chief Mitigation Officer, California Earthquake Authority)

Earthquake Brace+Bolt Program Updates (remote presentation)

Wendy Bohon (Seismic Hazards Branch Chief, California Geological Survey)

Updates from the California Geological Survey: Earthquake Shaking Potential and Seismic Hazard Maps (recording)

Gabrielle Tepp (Staff Seismologist, Caltech) and Jessie Saunders (Earthquake Early Warning Seismologist, Caltech)

Recent SoCal Earthquakes and Earthquake Early Warning Alerts

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)

ECA 2025 Activities & Opportunities, ShakeOut Planning, etc.

Attendee Announcements and Sharing

OPTIONAL: Caltech Seismological Laboratory Tour (45-60 minutes)

Learn the history of monitoring earthquakes by Caltech/USGS, view seismic instrumentation and technology, discover earthquake tools for quick response, and visit the Media Center!

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES

Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete after viewing the workshop (live or slides)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA Bay Area Summer 2025 Workshop
2025-08-27 09:00 - 12:30 | Online (Zoom)
Click here to view workshop presentation slides and other materials.

This workshop included presentations about the advanced seismic design of Hayward City Hall and the City’s emergency management approach; updates from several state partners; an overview of Santa Clara County’s recent earthquake exercise; and ECA 2025 activities including ShakeOut planning – followed by a tour of the building’s seismic design. See full agenda with topics and presenters below.
Location:
Hayward City Hall
777 B St, Hayward, CA 94541

Schedule:
08:30am – Registration and Networking
09:00am – Workshop Begins
12:30pm – Wrap-Up and Optional Tour

Presentations and Discussions:

Dena Gunning (Central County Fire Department),
Jeff Airth (SFO Emergency Management), and
Ray Bonilla (CommonSpirit Health and City of Hayward)

Welcome and Introductions – ECA Bay Area Coordinating Committee Chairs

Mayor Mark Salinas (City of Hayward)

Welcome to the Heart of the Bay Area: A Warm Welcome to the City of Hayward and our City Hall

Chief Eric Vollmer (City of Hayward FIre Department

Built for Resilience: A Closer Look at Hayward City Hall’s Advanced Seismic Design

Captain Frank Saiz (Emergency Services Officer, City of Hayward)

Emergency Management in Action: Hayward’s Community-Driven Resilience Approach

Janiele Maffei (Chief Mitigation Officer, California Earthquake Authority)

Earthquake Brace+Bolt Program Updates (remote presentation)

Kristopher White (Earthquake Program Specialist, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services)

Updates from the Cal OES Seismic Hazards Program

Tim Dawson (Program Manager, Seismic Hazards Assessment and Zonation, California Geological Survey)

New Maps of California Earthquake Shaking Potential and Local Earthquake Zones, Plus Other Updates From the California Geological Survey

Shruti Narain, (Northern California Resiliency Training Coordinator at the California Office of the Small Business Advocate (CalOSBA)

Outsmart Disaster Program Updates

Kacey Treadway (Emergency Planning Coordinator, County of Santa Clara Office of Emergency Management)

From Fault Line to Finish Line: How Our Earthquake Exercise Took Shape

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director | Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)

ECA 2025 Activities & Opportunities, ShakeOut Planning, etc.

Announcements by Participants

Chief Eric Vollmer (City of Hayward Fire Department) and Captain Frank Saiz (Emergency Services Officer, City of Hayward)

Optional Tour: Discover Hayward City Hall’s Earthquake-Ready Innovations (Brief visit to view the building’s base-isolation system)

WORKSHOP PRESENTATION SLIDES, SURVEY, etc.

Workshop Presentation Slides (PDF; some content shared live by presenters may not be not included)
Brief survey (Please complete if you attended, if you registered but could not then attend, or if you viewed the slides of the workshop)

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA Bay Area Fall 2025 Workshop (Online)
2025-12-03 09:00 - 11:00 | Online (Zoom)
This online workshop will feature a Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety training, to learn key guidance for what to do before, during, and after earthquakes to be prepared to survive and recover. The interactive training is an opportunity for attendees to provide feedback about the messaging and to learn how they can lead the presentation in their organization, community or with other groups. Participants will also learn about ECA opportunities and resources, and be invited to share updates about their activities.
Location: Zoom Meeting
REGISTER TO ATTEND

Presentations and Discussions:

Dena Gunning (Central County Fire Department),
Jeff Airth (SFO Emergency Management), and
Ray Bonilla (CommonSpirit Health and City of Hayward)

Welcome and Introductions – ECA Bay Area Coordinating Committee Chairs

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director, Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)

ECA Activities & Opportunities

Mark Benthien, Dena Gunning, and Ray Bonilla

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety
In this interactive training you will:

Develop an action plan for being prepared to survive and recover quickly when large earthquakes happen;
Be encouraged to provide feedback for additional or revised content for updating the training materials;
Learn how to share the Seven Steps in your organization, community, or with other groups (possibly as a member of the ECA Events Bureau).

Announcements by Participants

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS, DOCUMENTS, etc.
ECA Members will be notified when PDFs of presentations and other resources will be available (on this same page). To join the ECA (which is free and open to everyone), complete our simple form at EarthquakeCountry.org/join.

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org

ECA SoCal Fall 2025 Workshop
2025-12-10 09:00 - 12:30
This in-person workshop at AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles will feature a special Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety training to learn key guidance for what to do before, during, and after earthquakes. The interactive training will welcome attendee feedback about the messaging and discuss how they can lead the presentation in their organization, community or with other groups. The workshop will also include presentations about AltaSea, the Port’s emergency planning, recent SoCal earthquakes, and ECA opportunities.

Location: AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles
Berth 58, Enter Door 2 (look for BIG blue numbers above each set of doors).
2451 Signal St.m San Pedro, CA 90731

REGISTER TO ATTEND (In-Person Only)

Presentations and Discussions:

Margaret Vinci (Manager, Office of Earthquake Programs, Caltech) and Alan Hanson (Retired, Simpson Strong-Tie)

Welcome and introductions– ECA SoCal Coordinating Committee Chairs

Robin Aube (Director of Advancement for AltaSea at the Port of Los Angeles)

AltaSea Welcome and Overview

Lynette Ursery, (Emergency Management Coordinator, Port of Los Angeles)

Overview of Emergency Management at the Port of Los Angeles

Margaret Vinci (Manager, Office of Earthquake Programs, Caltech)

Recent Southern California Earthquakes

Mark Benthien (ECA Executive Director, Statewide California Earthquake Center at USC)

ECA Activities & Opportunities

Mark Benthien, Margaret Vinci, and Alan Hanson

Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

In this interactive training you will:

Develop Your Action Plan for being prepared to survive and recover quickly when large earthquakes happen;
Be encouraged to provide feedback for additional or revised content for updating the training materials;
Learn how to share the Seven Steps in your organization, community, or with other groups (possibly as a member of the ECA Events Bureau).

Attendee Announcements and Sharing

WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS, LINKS, etc.
ECA Members will be notified when PDFs of presentations and other resources will be available (on this same page). To join the ECA (which is free and open to everyone), complete our simple form at EarthquakeCountry.org/join.

QUESTIONS: info@earthquakecountry.org
